TAMPA – When Darryl Strawberry was hired by George Steinbrenner to be an organizational hitting instructor, one of Strawberry’s jobs was to be in big-league camp. But when the Yankees held their first full-squad workout yesterday at Legends Field, the former slugger wasn’t on hand.

Considering Strawberry’s checkered past with drug use, and the lack of reasons given by Yankees brass for his absence, red flags were raised quickly.

“He wasn’t supposed to be here today,” GM Brian Cashman said of Strawberry, who was released from prison last April after serving 18 months for violating probation stemming from drug arrests.

Cashman refused to comment further. Because Strawberry was hired by the Boss in December and technically reports to minor-league head Mark Newman, he doesn’t fall under Cashman’s domain.

Steinbrenner and Newman didn’t return calls. Nor did Strawberry.

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No. 5 starter Jon Lieber doesn’t know when he will throw off a mound again due to a right groin problem.

“I don’t know how much time, I will leave it up to them,” said Lieber, who suffered the injury Saturday and cut short a bullpen workout Monday. His next throw day is today, but he won’t. “It’s going to be some time. I don’t know how much.”

Cashman said he wanted to be safe rather than sorry.

“We’ll sacrifice five to seven days [in hopes] we’ll save three to four weeks,” Cashman said.

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Free agent 1B Travis Lee was at Legends Field yesterday, where he took a physical. He has agreed to a one-year deal worth $2 million with an option for 2005. Lee is expected in uniform today.

Lee’s presence gives Joe Torre lineup options that could include Jason Giambi at DH and Bernie Williams in center field.

While switch-hitting Tony Clark could make it as a bench player, it’s not likely the Yankees will carry three first basemen. Clark is going to work in the outfield like he did last year as a Met.

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Tyler Houston didn’t report to camp Monday, deciding he had no chance to play third base for the Yankees after the Alex Rodriguez deal. Yesterday the Yankees released Houston from a minor-league contract that would have paid him $900,000 if he made the major-league team.

Even though A-Rod had third blocked, Houston could have made the club as an extra infielder.